Touch display panel and touch display device

ABSTRACT

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a touch display panel and a touch display device. By arranging a shielding structure, which is connected to a touch electrode in a region where a touch line and a data line overlap each other or is applied with a shielding signal corresponding to a touch driving signal from an outside circuit, between the touch line and the data line, it is possible to prevent direct capacitance from being formed between the touch line and the data line, and to prevent the capacitance formed due to the data line from causing noise on a touch sensing signal. In addition, by arranging a touch load reduction layer between the shielding structure and the touch line, it is also possible to reduce the capacitance between the touch line and the data line arranged in the horizontal direction, thereby improving touch sensing performance.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/124,998, filed Sep. 7, 2018, which claims priority from Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2017-0115303, filed Sep. 8, 2017, and Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2018-0081639, filed Jul. 13, 2018, which is herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a touch display panel and a touchdisplay device.

Description of the Related Art

As society has developed into an information-based society, demand for adisplay device for displaying images is increasing, and various types ofdisplay devices such as a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, andan organic light-emitting display are being utilized.

In order to provide more various functions, such display devices providefunctions of recognizing a user's touch on a display panel andperforming an input process based on the recognized touch.

A display device capable of performing touch recognition (hereinafter,referred to as a “touch display device”) includes a plurality of touchelectrodes disposed on a display panel (on-cell type) or a plurality oftouch electrodes embedded in a display panel (in-cell type), so that thedisplay device can sense a user's touch on the display panel.

For example, in a touch display device, a touch driving circuit appliesa touch driving signal to a touch electrode through a touch line andsenses a change in capacitance that occurs when the user touches thedisplay panel. In addition, the presence or absence of a touch on thedisplay panel and a touch position can be sensed based on the change incapacitance.

Meanwhile, since such a touch display device provides both a displayfunction and a touch sensing function, electrodes, signal lines, and thelike for display driving are disposed on the display panel.

Therefore, capacitance may be formed between the electrodes, the signallines, and the like for display driving and a touch line to which atouch driving signal is applied. There is a problem in that suchcapacitance may cause noise on a touch sensing signal.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One aspect of embodiments disclosed herein is to provide a touch displaypanel and a touch display device, which is capable of sensing a user'stouch based on a change in capacitance and of reducing capacitancecausing noise on a touch sensing signal, so that touch sensingperformance can be enhanced.

In addition, another aspect of embodiments disclosed herein is toprovide a touch display panel and a touch display device, in which astructure capable of reducing capacitance causing noise on a touchsensing signal can be easily configured.

Further, an aspect of embodiments disclosed herein is to provide a touchdisplay panel and a touch display device, in which noise of a touchsensing signal can be reduced such that touch sensing can be performedindependently of display driving.

In an aspect, embodiments disclosed herein provide a touch displaydevice including: a plurality of touch electrodes embedded in a touchdisplay panel and separated from each other; a touch line overlappingsome of the plurality of touch electrodes and connected to one of theoverlapped touch electrodes through at least one contact hole; a dataline at least partially overlapping the touch line; and a shieldingstructure disposed between the touch line and the data line andelectrically connected to the touch electrode connected to the touchline.

In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein provide a touch displaypanel including: a data line; a touch line disposed on the data line andapplied with a touch driving signal; a touch electrode connected to thetouch line; a shielding structure disposed between the data line and thetouch line, the shielding structure being applied with a touch drivingsignal or a shielding signal corresponding to the touch driving signal;and a touch load reduction layer disposed between the touch line and theshielding structure.

In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein provide a touch displaypanel including: a data line; at least one first insulating layerdisposed on the data line; a touch electrode disposed on the firstinsulating layer and partially overlapping the data line; a secondinsulating layer disposed on the touch electrode; and a touch linedisposed on the second insulating layer, and overlapping the data lineand the touch electrode.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, by arranging ashielding structure in a region where a touch line and a data lineoverlap each other, it is possible to prevent direct capacitance frombeing formed between the touch line and the data line.

In addition, by connecting the shielding structure to a touch electrodethat forms relatively large capacitance, it is possible to preventcapacitance formed between the shielding structure and the data linefrom affecting a touch sensing signal transmitted through the touchline.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent capacitance formed between thedata line and the touch line from causing interference that will be seenas noise on a touch sensing signal and thus improve touch sensingperformance.

Further, by providing a structure in which the shielding structure isformed on the same layer as the touch electrode or the pixel electrode,it is easy to configure a structure for reducing noise on a touchsensing signal.

Further, by disposing the touch load reduction layer between theshielding structure and the touch line, it is possible to reduce noisecaused by capacitance between the touch line and the non-overlapped dataline.

As described above, by removing the influence of display noise on atouch sensing signal, touch sensing can be performed independently ofdisplay driving.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a schematic configuration of a touchdisplay device according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a concept of a shielding structureincluded in the touch display device according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views each illustrating a first embodiment of astructure in which a shielding structure is disposed in the touchdisplay device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views each illustrating a second embodiment of astructure in which a shielding structure is disposed in the touchdisplay device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views each illustrating a third embodiment of astructure in which a shielding structure is disposed in the touchdisplay device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views each illustrating a fourth embodiment of astructure in which a shielding structure is disposed in the touchdisplay device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of a planar structure in whichtouch lines and shielding structures are arranged in a touch displaydevice according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are views illustrating examples of cross-sectionalstructures of a portion B-B′ and a portion C-C′ in the touch displaydevice illustrated in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating another example of a planar structure inwhich touch lines and shielding structures are disposed in a touchdisplay device according to embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 15 and 16 are views illustrating examples of cross-sectionalstructures of a portion D-D′ and a portion E-E′ in the touch displaydevice illustrated in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying illustrativedrawings. In designating elements of the drawings by reference numerals,the same elements will be designated by the same reference numeralsalthough they are shown in different drawings. Further, in the followingdescription of the present disclosure, a detailed description of knownfunctions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when itmay make the subject matter of the present disclosure rather unclear.

In addition, terms, such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b) or the likemay be used herein when describing components of the present disclosure.These terms are merely used to distinguish one component from othercomponents, and the property, order, sequence and the like of thecorresponding component are not limited by the corresponding term. Inthe case that it is described that a certain structural element “isconnected to,” “is coupled to,” or “is in contact with” anotherstructural element, it should be interpreted that the certain structuralelement “is connected to,” “is coupled to,” or “is in contact with”directly or indirectly the another structural element.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a schematic configuration of a touchdisplay device 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, the touch display device 100 according to theembodiments of the present disclosure may include a touch display panel110 provided with a plurality of touch electrodes TE and a plurality oftouch lines TL, and a touch driving circuit 120 configured to drive thetouch electrodes TE and the touch lines TL.

The plurality of touch electrodes TE may be disposed on the touchdisplay panel 110 or may be disposed by being embedded in the touchdisplay panel 110.

The plurality of touch electrodes TE may be disposed separately fromeach other and may be connected to the plurality of touch lines TL,respectively. In this case, the touch electrodes TE are able to receivea touch driving signal output from the touch driving circuit 120 throughthe touch lines TL and to transmit a touch sensing signal through thetouch lines TL.

Alternatively, the plurality of touch electrodes TE may be classifiedinto TX electrodes to which the touch driving signal is applied and RXelectrodes configured to transmit the touch sensing signal.

In addition, when the touch display device 100 is a liquid crystaldisplay device, the plurality of touch electrodes TE may be commonelectrodes TE(COM) to which a common voltage for display driving isapplied at the time of display driving.

That is, the plurality of touch electrodes TE may receive a commonvoltage applied at the time of display driving and may receive a touchdriving signal at the time of touch driving.

The plurality of touch lines TL may be arranged to overlap the touchelectrodes TE, and each touch line TL may be connected to certain one ofthe touch electrodes TE through a contact hole CH.

Alternatively, the plurality of touch lines TL may be disposed along theouter peripheral region of the touch display panel 110 and may beconnected to the plurality of touch electrodes TE, respectively.

In addition, when the plurality of touch electrodes TE are composed ofTX electrodes and RX electrodes, the touch lines may be classified intotouch lines TL, which are connected to the TX electrodes, respectively,and touch lines TL, which are connected to the RX electrodes,respectively.

The touch driving circuit 120 outputs a touch driving signal to thetouch electrodes TE through the touch lines TL at the time of touchdriving and receives a touch sensing signal so as to sense presence andabsence of a user's touch and a touch position with respect to the touchdisplay panel 110.

The touch driving circuit 120 may sense a touch based on a change incapacitance generated when a user touches the touch display panel 110.For example, the touch can be sensed through a self-capacitance sensingmethod or a mutual capacitance sensing method.

In the case of the self-capacitance sensing method, the touch drivingcircuit 120 outputs a touch driving signal to each touch electrode TEthrough the touch lines TL during a touch driving period, and receives atouch sensing signal, thereby sensing a user's touch.

In the case of the mutual capacitance sensing method, the touch drivingcircuit 120 outputs a touch driving signal through the touch lines TLconnected to the TX electrodes during a touch driving period andreceives a touch sensing signal through the touch lines TL connected tothe RX electrodes, thereby sensing a user's touch.

Further, when the self-capacitance sensing method and the mutualcapacitance sensing method are used in a time-division manner, it ispossible to sense a user's touch using both sensing methods.

In the touch display panel 110 of the touch display device 100, not onlya configuration for touch sensing but also a configuration for displaydriving may be disposed.

For example, a plurality of gate lines GL may be disposed to which ascan signal for controlling the timing of each sub-pixel disposed in thetouch display panel 110 during display driving is applied. In addition,a plurality of data lines DL may be disposed to supply data voltage torespective sub-pixels.

In addition, in the case in which the touch display device 100 is aliquid crystal display device, a pixel electrode PXL may be disposed soas to form an electric field with a common electrode COM at the time ofdisplay driving.

Therefore, at the time of touch driving, capacitance may be formedbetween a touch line TL to which a touch driving signal is applied andthe electrodes and the signal lines disposed for display driving. Suchcapacitance may cause interference that will be seen as noise on a touchsensing signal.

In particular, capacitance causing noise may be formed by a signal linedisposed to overlap a touch line TL and the touch line TL.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a touch display panel 110and a touch display device 100, in which direct capacitance is preventedfrom being formed between signal lines overlapping a touch line TL andthe touch line TL in the touch display panel 110, whereby suchcapacitance is prevented from causing noise on a touch sensing signal.

FIG. 2 illustrates a concept of a structure that prevents directcapacitance from being formed between signal lines overlapping a touchline TL and the touch line TL in the touch display panel 110 andprevents capacitance formed by the signal lines such as a data line DLfrom affecting a touch sensing signal.

Referring to FIG. 2, a touch display device 100 according to embodimentsof the present disclosure may include a display panel 110 on which aplurality of touch lines TL and a data line DL overlapping a touch lineTL may be disposed.

Capacitance Ctd directly formed between the touch line TL and the dataline DL may cause interference that will be seen as noise on a touchsensing signal.

The touch display device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure may include a shielding structure (PTN) between the touchline TL and the data line DL such that no direct capacitance is formedbetween the touch line TL and the data line DL.

Such a shielding structure PTN is arranged so as to overlap the regionwhere the touch line TL and the data line DL overlap each other.

In addition, such a shielding structure PTN may be disposed to overlapthe entire data line DL or to overlap a part of the data line DL.

That is, the shielding structure PTN may be formed to completely overlapthe data lines DL, but may be formed by appropriately changing the areaof the overlapped region as needed.

Therefore, the shielding structure PTN is able to prevent directcapacitance from being formed between the touch line TL and the dataline DL.

In addition, the shielding structure PTN is disposed between the touchline TL and the data line DL and may be electrically connected to atouch electrode TE.

Here, although capacitance C1 may be formed between the shieldingstructure PTN and the data line DL, the shielding structure PTN is inthe state of being electrically connected to the touch electrode TE andthe touch electrode TE forms relatively large capacitance C2.

Therefore, in order for the capacitance C1 formed by the data line DLand the shielding structure PTN not to affect a touch sensing signal, itis necessary for the capacitance C1 not to affect the capacitance C2formed on the touch electrode TE connected to the shielding structurePTN.

However, since the capacitance C2 formed on the touch electrode TE isrelatively very large compared with the capacitance C1 formed by thedata line DL and the shielding structure PTN, the capacitance C1 formedby the data line DL and the shielding structure PTN has almost no effecton the capacitance C2 formed on the touch electrode TE.

Accordingly, the capacitance C1 formed by the data line DL and theshielding structure PTN cannot directly affect the touch line TL andcannot indirectly affect the touch line TL via the touch electrode TE,so that it is possible to prevent the capacitance generated by the dataline DL from causing noise on a touch sensing signal.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a first embodiment of a structure in which theshielding structure PTN disclosed above is disposed in the touch displaydevice 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, inwhich FIG. 3 illustrates a portion where a touch line TL and a touchelectrode TE are connected to each other and FIG. 4 illustrates aportion where a touch line TL and a touch electrode TE are not connectedto each other. The right figures in FIGS. 3 and 4 are planar views ofthe first embodiment of the structure in which the shielding structurePTN is disposed, and the left figures in FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectionviews along the lines A′A in the right figures.

Referring to FIG. 3, in the touch display device 100 according to thefirst embodiment, a gate electrode Gate is disposed on a substrate 301,and a gate insulating layer 302 is disposed on the gate electrode Gate.

An active layer 303, a source/drain electrode 304, and a data line DLare disposed on the gate insulating layer 302.

A first protective layer 305 is disposed on the source/drain electrode304 and the data line DL, and a planarization layer PAC is disposed onthe first protective layer 305. The first protective layer 305 and theplanarization layer PAC may be formed of an insulating material.

A pixel electrode PXL may be disposed on the planarization layer PAC,and the pixel electrode PXL may be connected to the source/drainelectrode 304 via a first contact hole CH1.

In addition, a second protective layer 306, a touch line TL, a thirdprotective layer 307, and a touch electrode TE may be sequentiallydisposed on the pixel electrode PXL. Here, the touch electrode TE may bea common electrode COM, to which a common voltage is applied at the timeof display driving. The second protective layer 306 and the thirdprotective layer 307 may be formed of an insulating material.

On the layer where the pixel electrode PXL is disposed, the shieldingstructure PTN may be disposed in a structure insulated from the pixelelectrode PXL in a region where the touch line TL and the data line DLoverlap each other.

That is, the shielding structure PTN according to the first embodimentof the present disclosure may be disposed on the same layer as the pixelelectrode PXL and may be formed of the same material as the pixelelectrode PXL. At this time, the shielding structure PTN may be disposedin a structure electrically insulated from the pixel electrode PXL.

Such a shielding structure PTN may be disposed so as to completely covera region where the touch line TL and the data line DL overlap eachother.

Alternatively, the shielding structure PTN according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure may be disposed to include at leasta portion of the region where the touch line TL and the data line DLoverlap each other.

Therefore, the shielding structure PTN may be disposed between the touchline TL and the data line DL so as to prevent direct capacitance frombeing formed between the touch line TL and the data line DL.

In addition, the shielding structure PTN may have a structure that iselectrically connected to the touch electrode TE.

At this time, while the shielding structure PTN is electricallyconnected to the touch line TL through the touch electrode TE, theshielding structure PTN is not directly connected to the touch line TL.

This is because, when the shielding structure PTN is directly connectedto the touch line TL, parasitic capacitance formed between the data lineDL and the shielding structure PTN may also affect the touch line TL.

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the touch electrode TE may beconnected to the touch line TL via a second contact hole CH2 and may beconnected to the shielding structure via a third contact hole CH3. Inaddition, although the shielding structure PTN is connected to the touchelectrode TE connected to the touch line TL but is not directlyconnected to the touch line TL.

Since the shielding structure PTN is electrically connected to the touchelectrode TE to which a touch driving signal is applied at the time oftouch driving, the shielding structure PTN forms relatively largecapacitance with the touch electrode TE.

Therefore, even if capacitance is formed between the shielding structurePTN and the data line DL, such capacitance cannot affect relativelylarge capacitance formed by the shielding structure PTN and the touchelectrode TE.

Therefore, by preventing the capacitance formed between the shieldingstructure PTN and the data line DL from indirectly affecting the touchline TL, it is possible to prevent noise generated due to capacitancegenerated by the data line DL from causing a touch sensing signaltransmitted through the touch line TL.

That is, the shielding structure PTN may also prevent capacitance, whichis generated by the data line DL, through a structure connected to thetouch electrode TE, from indirectly affecting a touch sensing signalwhile preventing direct capacitance from being formed between the dataline DL and the touch line TL.

Thereby, in a structure where the touch line TL and the data line DLoverlap each other, it is possible to reduce noise of a touch sensingsignal and to improve touch sensing performance.

Referring to FIG. 4, a shielding structure PTN is disposed between atouch line TL and a data line DL in a portion where the touch line TL isnot connected to a touch electrode TE.

Here, the shielding structure PTN is electrically connected to the touchelectrode TE via a third contact hole CH3.

That is, the touch line TL is connected to a portion of some of theplurality of overlapped touch electrodes TE, but each shieldingstructure (Shielding PTN) may be electrically connected to theoverlapped touch electrodes TE through at least one contact hole.

In addition, by disposing such a shielding structure PTN on the samelayer as the pixel electrode PXL, a structure for preventing theformation of direct capacitance between the touch line TL and the dataline DL may be easily formed.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views each illustrating a second embodiment of astructure in which a shielding structure PTN is disposed in a touchdisplay device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The right figures in FIGS. 5 and 6 are planar views of thesecond embodiment of the structure in which the shielding structure PTNis disposed, and the left figures in FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectionviews along the lines A′A in the right figures.

FIG. 5 illustrates a portion where a touch line TL and a touch electrodeTE are connected in the touch display device 100 according to the secondembodiment, and FIG. 6 illustrates a portion where a touch line TL and atouch electrode TE are not connected to each other.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the touch display device 100 according to thesecond embodiment, a gate electrode Gate is disposed on a substrate 301,and a gate insulating layer 302 is disposed on the gate electrode Gate.

An active layer 303, a source/drain electrode 304, a data line DL, and afirst protective layer 305 are disposed on the gate insulating layer302.

A planarization layer PAC is disposed on the first protective layer 305,and a touch electrode TE, i.e., a common electrode TE (COM), is disposedon the planarization layer PAC.

A second protective layer 306, a touch line TL, a third protective layer307, and a pixel electrode PXL are sequentially disposed on the touchelectrode TE, and the pixel electrode PXL is connected to a source/drainelectrode 304 via a first contact hole CH1.

Here, the touch line TL is connected to the touch electrode TE via asecond contact hole CH2.

Here, a shielding structure PTN is disposed in a region where the touchline TL and the data line DL overlap each other on the layer where thetouch electrode TE is disposed. In addition, the shielding structure PTNis connected to the touch electrode TE.

Accordingly, by disposing the shielding structure PTN on the same layeras the touch electrode TE, the shielding structure PTN can be easilyformed and can be connected to the touch electrode TE without a separatecontact hole.

In addition, the shielding structure PTN according to the secondembodiment of the present disclosure may be disposed on the same layeras the touch electrode TE and may be formed of the same material as thetouch electrode TE. At this time, at least a partial region of the touchelectrode TE may be extended and disposed in the shielding structurePTN.

Referring to FIG. 6, even in the portion where the touch line TL and thetouch electrode TE are not connected to each other, the shieldingstructure PTN is disposed on a layer where the touch electrode TE isdisposed between the touch line TL and the data line DL.

Accordingly, the shielding structure PTN is able to prevent directcapacitance from being formed between the touch line TL and the dataline DL and to prevent capacitance generated by the data line DL fromcausing noise on a touch sensing signal.

Meanwhile, the above-described embodiments exemplify a case in which atouch electrode TE is formed below a pixel electrode PXL. However, evenif the pixel electrode PXL is formed below the touch electrode TE, ashielding structure PTN connected to the touch electrode TE without aseparate contact hole may be disposed.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views each illustrating a third embodiment of astructure in which a shielding structure PTN is disposed in a touchdisplay device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The right figures in FIGS. 7 and 8 are planar views of thethird embodiment of the structure in which the shielding structure PTNis disposed, and the left figures in FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectionviews along the lines A′A in the right figures.

FIG. 7 illustrates a portion where a touch line TL and a touch electrodeTE are connected in the touch display device 100 according to the thirdembodiment, and FIG. 8 illustrates a portion where a touch line TL and atouch electrode TE are not connected to each other.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the touch display device 100 according to thethird embodiment, a gate electrode Gate is disposed on a substrate 301,and a gate insulating layer 302 is disposed on the gate electrode Gate.

An active layer 303, a source/drain electrode 304, a data line DL, and afirst protective layer 305 are disposed on the gate insulating layer302.

A planarization layer PAC is disposed on the first protective layer 305and a pixel electrode PXL is disposed on the planarization layer PAC.

The pixel electrode PXL may be connected to the source/drain electrode304 via a first contact hole CH1.

A second protective layer 306 is disposed on the pixel electrode PXL,and a touch electrode TE is disposed on the second protective layer 306.

A third protective layer 307 is disposed on the touch electrode TE, anda touch line TL is disposed on the third protective layer 307.

The touch line TL may be connected to the touch electrode TE via asecond contact hole CH2.

Here, a shielding structure PTN is disposed in a region where the touchline TL and the data line DL overlap each other on the layer where thetouch electrode TE is disposed, and the shielding structure PTN isconnected to the touch electrode TE.

That is, even when the touch electrode TE is disposed on an upper layerrelative to the pixel electrode PXL by disposing the touch line TL onthe upper layer relative to the touch electrode TE, the shieldingstructure PTN disposed between the touch line TL and the data line DLand the touch electrode TE can be connected to each other without aseparate contact hole.

In addition, the shielding structure PTN according to the thirdembodiment of the present disclosure may be disposed on the same layeras the touch electrode TE and may be formed of the same material as thetouch electrode TE. At this time, at least a partial region of the touchelectrode TE may be extended and disposed in the shielding structurePTN.

Referring to FIG. 8, the touch electrode TE is disposed on an upperlayer relative to the pixel electrode PXL and the touch line TL isdisposed on an upper layer relative to the touch electrode TE.

In addition, a shielding structure PTN is disposed in a region where thetouch line TL and the data line DL overlap each other on the layer wherethe touch electrode TE is disposed, and the shielding structure PTN isconnected to the touch electrode TE.

Therefore, the shielding structure PTN for preventing the formation ofdirect capacitance between the touch line TL and the data line DL can beeasily disposed, and the shielding structure PTN can be connected to thetouch electrode TE without a separate contact hole.

In addition, by changing the arrangement of the touch electrode TE andthe pixel electrode PXL in the above-described structure, the touch lineTL and the shielding structure PTN can be formed more simply.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views each illustrating a fourth embodiment of astructure in which a shielding structure PTN is disposed in a touchdisplay device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The right figures in FIGS. 9 and 10 are planar views of thefourth embodiment of the structure in which the shielding structure PTNis disposed, and the left figures in FIGS. 9 and 10 are cross-sectionviews along the lines A′A in the right figures.

FIG. 9 illustrates a portion where a touch line TL and a touch electrodeTE are connected in the touch display device 100 according to the fourthembodiment, and FIG. 10 illustrates a portion where a touch line TL anda touch electrode TE are not connected to each other.

Referring to FIG. 9, in the touch display device 100 according to thefourth embodiment, a gate electrode Gate is disposed on a substrate 301,and a gate insulating layer 302 is disposed on the gate electrode Gate.

An active layer 303, a source/drain electrode 304, a data line DL, and afirst protective layer 305 are disposed on the gate insulating layer302.

A planarization layer PAC is disposed on the first protective layer 305and a touch electrode TE is disposed on the planarization layer PAC.

A second protective layer 306 and a third protective layer 307 aredisposed on the touch electrode TE, and a pixel electrode TXL and atouch line TL are disposed on the third protective layer 307.

Here, only one of the second protective layer 306 and the thirdprotective layer 307 may be disposed.

A shielding structure PTN is disposed in a region where the touch lineTL and the data line DL overlap each other on the layer where the touchelectrode TE is disposed, and the shielding structure PTN is connectedto the touch electrode TE.

The pixel electrode PXL disposed on the third protective layer 307 isconnected to the source/drain electrode 304 via a first contact hole CH1and the touch line TL is connected to the touch electrode TE via asecond contact hole CH2.

In addition, the shielding structure PTN according to the fourthembodiment of the present disclosure may be disposed on the same layeras the touch electrode TE and may be formed of the same material as thetouch electrode TE. At this time, at least a partial region of the touchelectrode TE may be extended and disposed in the shielding structurePTN.

Referring to FIG. 10, at least one protective layer is disposed on thetouch electrode TE in a portion where the touch line TL and the touchelectrode TE are not connected to each other, and the pixel electrodePXL and the touch line TL are disposed on the protective layer.

Even in the portion where the touch line TL and the touch electrode TEare not connected to each other, the shielding structure PTN connectedto the touch electrode TE is disposed between the touch line TL and thedata line DL.

Accordingly, by forming the shielding structure PTN on the same layer asthe touch electrode TE, the shielding structure PTN can be easilydisposed and can be connected to the touch electrode TE without aseparate contact hole.

In addition, by forming the touch line TL on the same layer as the pixelelectrode PXL, the touch line TL can be easily formed.

In addition, by disposing the shielding structure PTN connected to thetouch electrode TE in a region where the touch line TL and the data lineDL overlap each other, direct capacitance is not formed between thetouch line TL and the data line DL and capacitance generated by the dataline DL does not affect a touch sensing signal.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above,by disposing a shielding structure PTN in a region where a touch line TLand a data line DL overlap each other, direct capacitance is preventedfrom being formed between the touch line TL and the data line DL.

In addition, by electrically connecting the shielding structure PTN tothe touch electrode TE, capacitance formed between the shieldingstructure PTN and the data line DL does not affect a touch sensingsignal transmitted through the touch line TL.

Accordingly, in a structure in which the touch line TL and the data lineDL overlap each other, capacitance generated by the data line DL can beprevented from causing interference that will be seen as noise on atouch sensing signal, and touch sensing performance can be improved.

Meanwhile, by the shielding PTN, it is possible to reduce noise causeddue to direct capacitance between the touch line TL and the overlappeddata line DL. However, noise may be present due to capacitance betweenthe touch line TL and the data line DL adjacent thereto in thehorizontal direction.

That is, noise due to capacitance formed between the touch line TL andthe data line DL, which does not overlap the touch line TL may affect atouch sensing signal.

The touch display device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure provides a method which is capable of preventing occurrenceof noise due to capacitance (vertical direction) between the touch lineTL and the overlapped data line DL through the shielding structure(shielding PTN) and capable of reducing noise due to capacitance (in ahorizontal direction or diagonal direction) between the touch line TLand the data line DL which does not overlap the touch line.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a planar structure in which touchlines TL and shielding structures (Shielding PTN) are arranged in atouch display device 100 according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 11, the touch display device 100 according toembodiments of the present disclosure may include a touch display panel110 having a plurality of touch electrodes TE disposed thereon, and atouch driving circuit 120 configured to detect a touch on the touchdisplay panel 110 by driving the touch electrodes TE. In addition, aplurality of touch lines TL may be arranged to connect the plurality oftouch electrodes TE and the touch driving circuit 120 with each other.The touch lines TL may be connected to the touch electrodes TE throughone or more sixth contact holes CH6.

Since the touch electrodes TE may be common electrodes COM to which acommon voltage for display driving is applied, the touch electrodes TEmay be arranged to overlap a plurality of sub-pixels SP. Accordingly,the data lines DL configured to supply the data voltage to sub-pixels SPmay be arranged in the same direction as the touch lines TL connected tothe touch electrodes TE. Further, at least some of the data lines DL andthe touch lines TL may be arranged to overlap each other in order toincrease an opening ratio.

As described above, capacitance may be formed between the touch lines TLand the data line DLs by the structure in which the touch lines TL andthe data lines DL are arranged, and noise may be generated in a touchsensing signal detected through the touch lines TL.

Accordingly, the touch display device 100 according to the embodimentsof the present disclosure may be configured such that shieldingstructures (shielding PTN) are disposed between the touch lines TL andthe data lines DL as illustrated in FIG. 11, so that direct capacitancecan be prevented from being formed between the touch lines TL and thedata lines DL. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the noise of a touchsensing signal, which is caused due to the capacitance formed betweenthe touch lines TL and the data lines DL.

In addition, the shielding structures (Shielding PTN) may be connectedto the touch electrodes TE through one or more seventh contact holesCH7. Therefore, touch driving signals applied to the touch electrodes TEmay be applied to the shielding structures (shielding PTN). Therefore,it is possible to prevent noise from being generated in the touchsensing signals detected through the touch lines TL due to thecapacitance between the data lines DL and the shielding structures PTN.

Further, by preventing the capacitance generated due to the data line DLand the shielding structures PTN from causing noise to the touch sensingsignal detected through the touch lines TL, touch sensing can beperformed independently of display driving.

That is, the touch sensing may be performed in a period temporallyseparated from the display driving, or may be performed simultaneouslywith the display driving. In this case, when the display driving and thetouch sensing are simultaneously performed, a data voltage modulatedbased on the touch driving signal may be applied to the data line DLs.The data voltage may be modulated by ground voltage modulation, gammavoltage modulation, or the like.

By arranging the shielding structures (Shielding PTN) to which the touchdriving signal is applied between the touch lines TL and the data linesDL as described above, the noise of the touch sensing signal can bereduced and the display driving and the touch sensing can be performedsimultaneously.

The touch display device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure may include an insulating layer disposed between the touchlines TL and the shielding structures PTN and having a predeterminedheight in order to reduce noise generated due to capacitance formedbetween the touch line TL and the data line DL disposed in thehorizontal direction. This insulating layer is located overlying thedata line DL.

That is, by arranging the insulating film having a predetermined heightbetween the touch lines TL and the shielding structures (Shielding PTN),it is possible to reduce the capacitance between the touch lines TL andthe data lines DL disposed in the horizontal direction, and thus toimprove touch sensing performance.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate examples of cross-sectional structures of thetouch display device 100 illustrated in FIG. 11, in which FIG. 12illustrates an example of a cross-sectional structure of a portion B-B′in FIG. 11 and FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a cross-sectionalstructure of a portion C-C′ in FIG. 11.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, a gate electrode (Gate) is disposed on asubstrate 1001, and a gate insulating layer 1002 is disposed on the gateelectrode (Gate). In addition, an active layer 1003, a source/drainelectrode 1004, and a data line DL are disposed on the gate insulatinglayer 1002.

A first protective layer 1005 is disposed on the source/drain electrode1004 and the data line DL, and a planarization layer PAC is disposed onthe first protective layer 1005. The first protective layer 1005 and theplanarization layer PAC may be formed of an insulating material.

A shielding structure (Shielding PTN) may be disposed on theplanarization layer PAC and a touch load reduction layer 1100 having apredetermined height may be disposed on the shielding structure(Shielding PTN).

In addition, touch lines TL may be disposed on the touch load reductionlayer 1100.

A second protective layer 1006 is disposed on a touch line TL and atouch electrode TE are disposed on the second protective layer 1006. Athird protective layer 1007 may be disposed on the touch electrode TEand a pixel electrode PXL may be disposed on the third protective layer1007.

Here, the second protective layer 1006 insulates the touch line TL fromthe touch electrode TE, and the third protective layer 1007 insulatesthe touch electrode TE and the pixel electrode PXL from each other.

A fourth protective layer 1008 may be further disposed between theshielding structure (Shielding PTN) and the touch load reduction layer1100.

The touch line TL may be connected to the touch electrode TE through asixth contact hole CH6 formed in the second protective layer 1006 asillustrated in FIG. 12. In a portion where the touch line TL is notconnected to the touch electrode TE, a structure as illustrated in FIG.13 may be provided.

The touch electrode TE is connected to a shielding structure (ShieldingPTN) located under the touch load reduction layer 1100 through a seventhcontact hole CH7 formed in the touch load reduction layer 1100.Accordingly, a touch driving signal can be applied to the shieldingstructure (shielding PTN).

By disposing the shielding PTN and the touch load reduction layer 1100in this manner, it is possible to prevent noise due to the data line DLat the time of touch sensing and to reduce the parasitic capacitancethat may be generated between the data line DL and the touch line TL.

Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the parasitic capacitancebetween the touch line TL and the data line DL, and it is possible toreduce the noise of the touch sensing signal due to the parasiticcapacitance, thereby improving the touch sensing performance.

Meanwhile, since the touch load reduction layer 1100 is disposed on theshielding structure (Shielding PTN), the pixel electrode PXL may beconnected to the source/drain electrode 1004 through a connectionstructure CP disposed between the planarization layer PAC and the touchload reduction layer 1100.

That is, the connection structure CP insulated from the shieldingstructure (Shielding PTN) may be disposed on the planarization layerPAC. The connection structure CP may be made of the same material as theshielding structure (Shielding PTN).

In addition, the connection structure CP may be connected to thesource/drain electrode 1004 through the fourth contact hole CH4 formedin the planarization layer PAC. The pixel electrode PXL located on thetouch load reduction layer 1100 may be connected to the connectionstructure CP through the fifth contact hole CH5 disposed in the touchload reduction layer 1100.

Accordingly, by arranging the connection structure CP in the process ofdisposing the shielding structure (Shielding PTN), a connectionstructure between the pixel electrode PXL and the source/drain electrode1004 can be easily implemented in the structure including the touch loadreduction layer 1100.

In one embodiment, the planarization layer PAC is thicker than the touchload reduction layer 1100, and thus has a greater height than the touchload reduction layer 1100. Examples of this are illustrated in FIGS. 12,13, 14, 15 and 16. The planarization layer PAC is an insulting layerthat provides a planar upper surface over the various transistorstructures on the substrate 1001 and therefor is sufficiently thick tofill any lower regions while having a top surface that extends in aplanar fashion over both tall and short structural elements below it.

While FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a structure in which the pixelelectrode PXL is located above the touch electrode TE, which is a commonelectrode COM, as an example, the touch electrode TE may be disposedabove the pixel electrode PXL in some embodiments.

That is, in the structure in which the stacking order of the data lineDL, the shielding structure (Shielding PTN), the touch load reductionlayer 1100, and the touch line TL is maintained as shown in FIG. 13, thepositions and relative stacking order of other components, such as thepixel electrode PXL and touch electrode TE may vary according to designand the convenience of process.

As described above, it is possible to improve touch sensing performanceby disposing a shielding PTN between a data line DL and a touch line TL.

A touch driving signal may be applied to a shielding structure(Shielding PTN) through a connection structure between the shieldingstructure (Shielding PTN) and a touch electrode TE. The shieldingstructure can be driven by an integrated circuit that is outside of thedisplay panel. That is a signal can be provided from a separate circuitthat is not within the touch driving circuit 120, and is under controlof a central processor or from another outside source. It can also bedriven by a different circuit that is within the touch driving circuit120 but that is not the touch driving signal. This signal can correspondto the touch driving signal or be separate signal that is just suppliedto the shielding structure, depending on the embodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates another example of a planar structure in which touchlines TL and shielding structures (Shielding PTN) are arranged in atouch display device 100 according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure, as an example.

Referring to FIG. 14, a touch display device 100 according toembodiments of the present disclosure may include a plurality of touchelectrodes TE, and a plurality of touch lines TL, which are respectivelyconnected to the plurality of touch electrodes TE through at least onesixth contact hole CH6. In addition, the touch display device mayinclude shielding structures (Shielding PTN) disposed between the touchlines TL and the data lines DL.

The shielding structures (Shielding PTN) are not directly connected tothe touch electrodes TE, and may be applied with a shielding signalcorresponding to a touch driving signal from an outside source, aspreviously stated.

Here, the shielding signal may be a signal having the same frequency andphase as the frequency and phase of the touch driving signal. Further,the shielding signal may be a signal having the same amplitude as theamplitude of the touch driving signal.

The shielding signal may be output from the touch driving circuit 120and may be applied to the shielding structures (Shielding PTN).Alternatively, the shielding signal may be output from a driving circuitdisposed separately from the touch driving circuit 120 and may beapplied to the shielding structures (Shielding PTN).

When the shielding signal is output from the touch driving circuit 120,each the shielding structure PTN may be connected to the touch drivingcircuit 120 so as to be applied with the shielding signal from the touchdriving circuit 120.

Alternatively, the shielding structures (Shielding PTN) may have astructure in which the shielding structures (Shielding PTN) areconnected to each other in a pad portion that is an outer area of thetouch display panel 110, and the shielding structures (Shielding PTN)and the touch driving circuit 120 may be connected through link lines LLdisposed in the pad portion. Therefore, it is possible to apply ashielding signal to the shielding structures (Shield PTN) directly fromthe link lines that will reduce the number of separate wiring lines forsupplying the shielding signal to the shielding structures (ShieldingPTN). The link lines can be coupled to controlled by a separateprocessor that is outside the touch line driving circuit.

As described above, by providing shielding structures (Shielding PNT)between the touch lines TL and the data lines DL and applying ashielding signal corresponding to the touch driving signal to theshielding structures (Shielding PTN), it is possible to prevent noisefrom being generated in the touch sensing signal due to the capacitancedue to the data lines DL.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate examples of a cross-sectional structure ofthe touch display device 100 illustrated in FIG. 14, in which FIG. 15illustrates an example of a cross-sectional structure of a portion D-D′in FIG. 14 and FIG. 16 illustrates an example of a cross-sectionalstructure of a portion E-E′ in FIG. 14.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, a gate electrode (Gate) is disposed on asubstrate 1001, and a gate insulating layer 1002 is disposed on the gateelectrode (Gate). An active layer 1003, a source/drain electrode 1004,and a data line DL are disposed on the gate insulating layer 1002.

A first protective layer 1005 is disposed on the source/drain electrode1004 and the data line DL and a planarization layer PAC is disposed onthe first protective layer 1005. This protective layer 1005 ispreferably an insulating layer.

A shielding structure (Shielding PTN) and a connection structure CP aredisposed on the planarization layer PAC. Here, the shielding structure(Shielding PTN) may be arranged so as to overlap at least a portion ofthe data line DL. The connection structure CP may be connected to thesource/drain electrode 1004 through the fourth contact hole CH4 formedin the planarization layer PAC.

A touch load reduction layer 1100 is disposed on the shielding structure(Shielding PTN) and the connection structure CP. Further, a fourthprotective layer 1008 may be further disposed between the shieldingstructure (Shielding PTN) and the touch load reduction layer 1100.

The touch load reduction layer 1100 may be disposed to have apredetermined height, and the touch line TL may be disposed on the touchload reduction layer 1100. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce noisecaused due to capacitance between the touch line TL and the data line DLdisposed in the horizontal direction through the touch load reductionlayer 1100.

A second protective layer 1006 may be disposed on the touch line TL anda touch electrode TE may be disposed on the second protective layer1006. A third protective layer 1007 may be disposed on the touchelectrode TE and a pixel electrode PXL may be disposed on the thirdprotective layer 1007.

The pixel electrode PXL may be connected to the connection structure CPthrough a fifth contact hole CH5 disposed in the touch load reductionlayer 1100. Thus, the pixel electrode PXL may be connected to thesource/drain electrode 1004 through the connection structure CP.

The touch electrode TE may be connected to the touch line TL through asixth contact hole CH6 disposed in the second protective layer 1006 asillustrated in FIG. 15 in a portion where the touch electrode TE isconnected to the touch line TL. In addition, a portion where the touchelectrode TE is not connected to the touch line TL may have the samestructure as the example illustrated in FIG. 16.

Here, since the shielding structure (Shielding PTN) is applied with ashielding signal from the touch driving circuit 120 or a separatelydisposed driving circuit, the touch electrode TE may not be connected tothe shielding structure (Shielding PTN). Accordingly, as illustrated inFIGS. 15 and 16, a contact hole for connecting the shielding PTN and thetouch electrode TE may not be disposed.

In this manner, when the shielding structure (Shielding PTN) isconfigured to be applied with a shielding signal corresponding to atouch driving signal from the outside, the contact hole for connectingthe shielding structure (Shielding PTN) and the touch electrode TE maybe removed and the touch display device 100 in which the shieldingstructure (Shielding PTN) is disposed may be easily implemented.

According to the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure,it is possible to remove display noise of a touch sensing signal byarranging a shielding structure (Shielding PTN) between a touch line TLand a line to which a signal for display driving is applied.

In addition, it is also possible to remove noise caused by capacitancebetween a touch line TL and a data line DL arranged in the horizontaldirection by arranging a touch load reduction layer 1100 between theshielding structure (Shielding Pattern) and the touch line TL. The touchload reduction layer 1100 can be an insulating layer. In one embodiment,the PAC is a first insulating layer disposed on the data line and thetouch load reduction layer is a second insulating layer disposed on thetouch electrode. A touch line is disposed on this second insulatinglayer, and overlapping the data line and the touch electrode.

The touch load reduction layer 1100 provides a greater distance betweenthe data line DL and the touch line TL, therefore reducing the parasiticcapacitive coupling between them. In the embodiment in which theshielding structure is driven with a signal different from the touchline drive signal, then a touch load reduction layer 1100 positionedbetween the shielding structure and the touch line also provides agreater distance between them and thus reduces the parasitic capacitancebetween them.

Further, by configuring the shielding structure (Shielding PTN) to beapplied with a shielding signal corresponding to a touch driving signalfrom the outside, the shielding structure (Shielding PTN) can bearranged while minimizing the increase of the number of contact holes,it is possible to improve touch sensing performance.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure has beendescribed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosureas disclosed in the accompanying claims. Therefore, exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure have been described for the sakeof brevity and clarity. The scope of the present disclosure shall beconstrued on the basis of the accompanying claims in such a manner thatall of the technical ideas included within the scope equivalent to theclaims belong to the present disclosure.

It is to be appreciated that certain features of the present disclosurewhich are, for clarity, described herein in the context of separateembodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment.Conversely, various features of the present disclosure that are, forbrevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also beprovided separately or in any subcombination.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent applicationpublications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patentapplications and non-patent publications referred to in thisspecification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet areincorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of theembodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of thevarious patents, applications and publications to provide yet furtherembodiments.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of theabove-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should beconstrued to include all possible embodiments along with the full scopeof equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, theclaims are not limited by the disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A touch display device, comprising: a touchdisplay panel; a touch electrode embedded in the touch display panel; atouch line electrically connected to the touch electrode; a data linedisposed on a layer different from a layer where the touch line isdisposed; a pixel electrode coupled to the data line; and a shieldingstructure vertically interposed between the touch line and the dataline, and the shielding structure vertically overlaps at least partiallyboth the touch line and the data line in a plan view.
 2. The touchdisplay device of claim 1, wherein the shielding structure is configuredto receive a touch driving signal or a signal corresponding to a touchdriving signal applied to the touch electrode.
 3. The touch displaydevice of claim 2, wherein the data line is configured to receive a datavoltage modulated based on the touch driving signal.
 4. The touchdisplay device of claim 3, wherein the data voltage and the touchdriving signal are configured to be supplied in a same period.
 5. Thetouch display device of claim 1, wherein the shielding structure iselectrically connected to the touch electrode.
 6. The touch displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the shielding structure is disposed on alayer different from a layer where the touch electrode is disposed. 7.The touch display device of claim 6, further comprising a first contacthole and a second contact hole, wherein the touch electrode is connectedto the touch line via the first contact hole and is connected to theshielding structure via the second contact hole.
 8. The touch displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the shielding structure is electricallyinsulated from the touch electrode.
 9. The touch display device of claim1, wherein the touch line includes a contact portion and a non-contactportion, and a width of the contact portion is wider than a width of thenon-contact portion.
 10. A touch display device, comprising: a touchdisplay panel; a touch electrode embedded in the touch display panel; atouch line electrically connected to the touch electrode; a data linedisposed on a layer different from a layer where the touch line isdisposed; a shielding structure vertically interposed between the touchline and the data line; and a touch load reduction layer disposedbetween the touch line and the shielding structure, the touch loadreduction layer being an electrical insulator, wherein the shieldingstructure vertically overlaps at least partially both the touch line andthe data line in a plan view.
 11. The touch display device of claim 10,further comprising: a pixel electrode coupled to the data line; and aninsulating layer vertically interposed between the pixel electrode andthe touch electrode, wherein a thickness of the insulating layer issmaller than a thickness of the touch load reduction layer.
 12. Thetouch display device of claim 10, wherein the shielding structure isconfigured to receive a touch driving signal or a signal correspondingto a touch driving signal applied to the touch electrode.
 13. The touchdisplay device of claim 12, wherein the data line is configured toreceive a data voltage modulated based on the touch driving signal. 14.The touch display device of claim 13, wherein the data voltage and thetouch driving signal are configured to be supplied in a same period.